Cart



Jan. 31, 1961 HAMlLTON 2,969,882

CART

Filed Oct. 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V 12 16 E'- ||z||l||ml INVENTOR.5W1 f/Awm ran;

Jan. 31, 1961 E. F. HAMILTON 2,969,882 I CART Filed on. 21, 1957 sSheets-Sheet 2 v I IJIII-IIIII4V I INVENTOR.

57A; Ff/flM/L Tang 34 38 I flTTOR/YEXS 1961 E. F. HAMILTON 2,959,882

CART v Filed Oct. 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J6' Z4 I and 20 34 Jay/m INV EN TOR. 71m. E Ham/1. ran;

United CART Filed Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,240

10 Claims. (Cl. 211-148) This invention relates to movable utilitycarts, and more particularly to carts of the type used in the homewareline of metal furniture.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cart of the type referredto above having an attractive appearance, and possessing a rigidinter-braced construction. Another object is the provision of such acart made of economical sheet-metal and metal-tube construction, whichcan be conveniently and rapidly assembled and is adapted for shipment,or even sale, in knocked-down condition. A further object is to provideenhanced rigidity and strength in a cart the major portions of which areformed of light-weight metal.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cart having legs formed inend-pairs, each pair formed from a tubular metal leg-forming memberhaving a general shape of an inverted U whose intermediate stretchserves as a brace and a push bar for the table. At a plurality ofelevations on such legs and releasably secured thereto, I provideshelves which position the legs in pairs in vertical planes, with theintermediate stretch of each legforming member located above theuppermost shelf to provide the above mentioned push bar.

Each of the shelves is conveniently constructed of sheet-metal and isprovided with a peripheral molding stiffening the shelf and adding toits decorative appearance. Underlying each of the shelves is a silencer,or sound deadener, constructed from any suitable material, such ascorrugated board, cardboard, or the like, and secured in such anunderlying position by the peripheral shelf molding. Desirably,additional rigidity is added to the selves and to the cart assembly as awhole by providing a brace disposed along each longitudinal edge of eachshelf and interlockingly engaging the molding of said shelf.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention. Insuch drawings:

Fig. 1 is is a side elevation of a cart embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the cart shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top elevation of the cart shown in Figs. 1 and 2; a

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top elevation of one corner of a cart-shelf withparts broken away to show the legshelf mounting;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cart-shelf corner shown in Fig. 4with the cart leg removed;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 5, but with the cart leg andsilencer removed;

tes Patent 9 F ice Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a shelf brace;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4 and showingthe method of securing the silencer and molding to a cart-shelf; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 3.

My invention as illustrated comprises a cart having four upstanding legs10, conveniently formed from two lengths of metal-tubing, each lengthbeing bent into a U-shape to form two adjacent cart legs 10interconnected by a transverse medial portion 12 which braces the cartand serves as a push bar for moving the cart from one location toanother. Thus as shown, the legs are formed as end-pairs, all legsextending vertically from casters 14 upward to the push bars 12.

Interconnecting the legs 10 at upper and lower elevations are a pair ofgenerally rectangular identical cartshelves 16 each conveniently formedof sheet-metal and having a depending peripheral flange or lip 18. Eachof the shelves 16 is formed at its corners to provide notches 20receiving the legs 10.

To stiffen and prevent the warping of each shelf, thus enabling it to bemade of light-gage, light-weight metal, I provide it with a moldingextending peripherally around the shelf and providing a means ofrigidity securing it to the cart legs 10.

As shown in Fig. 4, the molding for each shelf comprises a first pair ofmolding strips 24 extending along the sides of the shelf and a secondpair of molding strips 26 extending across the ends of the shelf, thelatter strips conveniently extend around the corners of the shelf tomeet the molding strips 24 in mitred joints at the outer corners of thenotches 20 (Fig. 6). Each of the molding strips 24 and 26 is comprisedof a centrally disposed vertical web 28 abutting the outer face of theshelf flange 18 and extending above and below the shelf 16 to form anouter border for the shelf. A flange 30 integral with the top of the web28 and disposed at an acute angle thereto extends obliquely downwardfrom the top of the web 28 so as to be adapted to engage and bearagainst the upper face of the shelf 16 at a distance from the edgethereof. The lower edge of the web 28 is folded upwardly to provide aflange 34 disposed (Fig. 10) at an acute angle to the web 28 andterminating in an outturned lip 36.

The molding strips 24 are deformed adjacent their ends to take the shapeof the notches 20 and partially embrace the legs 10. As shown in Fig. 5,in the regions of such deformation the flanges 30 and 34 are bent intocontact with the web 28, the edge portions of the flanges, including thelip 36, being trimmed as necessary to permit the shelf-flange 18 to bereceived between them. There is thus provided at each end of each strip24 a rigid double-thickness portion adapted to bear against the adjacentleg for a substantial vertical and circumferential extent.

Underlying each of the shelves 16 and having substantially the sameextent and shape as the shelf is a silencer 31 formed from any suitablematerial, such as corrugated board or the like. These silencers 31,which absorb and deaden shocks and noises created by any objects thatmay be dropped upon the shelves, are held in place by the lips 36 of thestrips 24 and 26. To that end, each of the strips 24 and 26 is initiallyformed (Fig. 10)

so that the combined shelf 16 and silencer 31 may be snugly receivedbetween the lip 36 and the edge of the flange 30. After the strips areapplied to each shelf, they are deformed as shown in Fig. 9 to bring theflange 34 into contact with the shelf-flange l8 and to clamp the shelfand silencer firmly between the lip 36 and the flange 30 (Fig. 9).Desirably, the deformation from the crosssection of Fig. 10 to that ofFig. 9 is not continuous for the length of each strip, as variations inthe dimensions of the silencer or tearing of the edges thereof as anincident to the crushing action which takes place when the flange 34andlip 36 are, moved to (their Fig. 9 position may cause the silencer to bewithout support from the lip 36 at one or more places along its margin,Accordingly, I prefer to leave. about, the middle third of each strip 24and 26 with the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 10, where the lip 36is spaced well inwardly from the margin of the silencer and is capableof supporting it should the lip.36, for any reason, fail to do so.

To add further rigidity and strength to each shelf, as well as tostiffen the entire structure, I employ braces 38 which may besubstantially thicker, stronger stock than that used for the shelves andmolding strips. Each such brace extends along a side of a shelf betweenthe legs 10 and preferably extends beyond such legs and around thecorner of the shelf as shown in Fig. 4. At the notches 20, the braceisformedwithoffsets 39 conforming to the legembracing portions of theflange 34, and over its center portion it is provided with anotheroffset 40 to clear (Fig. 10) the underformed stretch of the flange 34and lip 36. To hold the braces in association with each shelf prior toassembly of the cart, the brace-ends may 'be reduced in width and bentoutward slightly to form tongues 42 adapted to enter notches 44 providedin the flanges 34 of the end molding strips 26. Each brace-end is formedin the shape indicated in Fig. 4, and to effect insertion of the tongues42 into the notches 44, the brace is resiliently sprung to face thetongues toward each other as necessary to permit them to clear the lowerportions of the flanges 34. When the springing effect is released, thebrace resumes its originalshape, and the tongues 42 projectinto thenotches 44.

As shown in Fig. 5, each leg 10 is provided with a countersunk opening48 which receives a bolt 50 extending through the leg, 10, through anopening 52 in the molding strip 24, and finally through an opening 54 inthe brace 38. Nuts 56 are received on the inner threaded ends ofthebolts 50, which when tightly drawn bind against thebraces 38.,to rigidlyretain them against the moldingstrips 2.4. for fixedly securing theshelves and legs in an assembled relation with the legs being retainedin the notches 20. Since the formed molding strips 24 bear forsubstantial vertical and circumferential extents againstthe legs 10, theassembled cart possesses a high degree of rigidity and strength.

Although. I have disclosed a cart-shelf employing the use oflongitudinally extending braces for inter-bracing the shelves, moldings,and legs, it is to be understood that a rigidly constructed cart-shelfmay be constructed according to my invention without employment of suchbracesif the shelves and moldings are formed of material of adequatestrength.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cart, a plurality of generally rectangularly shaped shelveshaving opposed longitudinal edges and mounted in vertically spacedrelation on a plurality of upstanding legs disposed adjacent the cornersof said shelves, a shelf molding extending peripherally around eachshelf and including a Vertical web and a pair of members engaging saidshelf to retain the molding thereon and stiffen said shelf, a silencerunderlying each shelf and retained thereunder by one of said pair ofmembers, a brace extending along each longitudinal edge of each shelfinwardly of the silencer-retaining molding member and engaging themolding at each end of the shelf, for.

bracing said shelf, and means on said legs fastening each of them to themolding and one of said braces for securing said legs to the shelves ina bracing relation to form a rigid structure.

2. In a cart, a plurality of generally rectangular shaped shelves havingopposed longitudinal edges and mounted in vertically spaced relation ona plurality of upstanding legs disposed adjacent the corners of saidshelves, each shelf having a vertically extending peripheral lip, amolding extending peripherally around each shelf and including avertical web and a pair of inwardly extending flanges engaging saidshelf, one of said flanges engaging said shelf lip and bindinglyretaining it against said vertical web, a silencer underlying each shelfand retained thereunder by said one flange engaging the shelf lip, abrace disposed along each longitudinal edge of each shelf inwardly ofsaid molding and shelf lip and engaging the molding at each end of theshelf for mounting the brace thereon, and means on said legs securingeach of them to the shelves in a bracing relation to form a rigidstructure.

3. In a cart as defined in claim 2 in which the ends of each of saidbraces are retained between one of the molding flanges and the shelflip.

4. \In a cart as defined in claim 2 in whichrthe molding flange engagingsaid lip is bent inwardly medially along each side of each shelf topermit said flange to engage the silencer substantially inwardly of itsmarginal edge.

5. In acart as defined in claim 2 in which the medial portion of each ofsaid braces is deformed laterally inwardly to support the shelf silenceragainst the shelf inwardly from the edges thereof.

6. In a cart, a plurality of generally rectangularly shaped shelveshaving opposed longitudinal edges and mounted in vertically spacedrelation on a plurality of upstanding legs disposed adjacent the cornersof said shelves, each shelf having a vertically extending peripherallip, a shelf molding extending peripherally around each shelf andincluding a vertical web and a pair of flanges engaging said shelf, oneof said flanges retaining said shelf lip against said vertical web andhaving a lip adapted to engage and retain a silencer against the lowerface of said shelf, a brace disposed inwardly of said molding and shelflip along each of the longitudinal edges thereof and engaging themolding at each end of the shelf, and bolts received in said verticalweb and braces to secure said legs and shelves in a bracing relation toform a rigid structure.

7. In a cart, a plurality of generally rectangularly shaped shelveshaving opposed longitudinal edges and mounted in vertically spacedrelation on a plurality of upstanding legs disposed adjacent the cornersof said shelves, a shelf molding extending peripherally around eachshelf and including a vertical web and upper and lower flange membersengaging said shelf to retain the molding thereon and stiflen saidshelf, a brace disposed along each longitudinal edge of each shelfinwardly of said lower flange, the ends of said braces being received inopenings formed in the lower molding flange along the transverse edgesof the shelf, and means on said legs fastening each of them to themolding and one of the braces for securing said legs to the shelves inbracing relation to form a rigid structure.

8. In a cart, a plurality of generally rectangularly shaped shelveshaving opposed longitudinal edges and mounted in vertically spacedrelation on a plurality of upstanding legs disposed adjacent the cornersof said shelves, a shelf molding extending peripherally around eachshelf and including a vertical web having a depth substantially greaterthan the depth of the shelf and a pair of flange members at an acuteangle to said web to bindingly grip the shelf between the opposed edgesthereof to retain the molding thereon and stiffen said shelf, saidmolding having offsets formedthereihfor the reception of said upstandinglegs, and means on said legs fastening each of them to the molding forsecuring each of them to each shelf to form a rigid structure.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which the flange members onsaid molding are substantially parallel to the molding web in saidoffset areas, and the means for fastening the legs thereto extendsthrough the molding web and one of said flange members.

10. In a cart, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves mounted on aplurality of upstanding legs, each shelf having a downwardly extendingperipheral lip, a molding extending peripherally around each shelf andincluding a vertical web and a pair of inwardly extending flangesengaging the upper face of said shelf and said shelf lip and bindinglyretaining said shelf lip against said vertical web, a plurality ofelongated braces disposed inwardly of said molding and shelf lip andhaving outwardly bent ends received in openings formed in said one ofsaid flanges, and means on said legs fastening each of them to themolding and one of said braces for securing each of them to each shelfto form a rigid structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

